Exoten und Garten Forum
Hardy Palm and Subtropical Board
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Brian/Dan ; Opuntia humifusa expand in hot season:
Message from Mike coastal CT
The cactus pictured is the native opuntia humifusa, it shrivels around November and inflates in April again. From what I understand, this protects it from cold and rotting.
Here is a pic from summer of my street bed - with both O. humifusa and O. ellisiana (the larger pads) which stays up all winter (but is more subject to rotting in winter):